How to Connect Wireless Printers in Windows 8 / 8.1

Windows 8.1 has brought many improvements regarding how it interacts with peripherals and other hardware. For example, it incorporates the new WiFi Direct technology using which two WiFi enabled devices can connect with each other. WiFi Direct can be used to connect your Windows 8 PC with printers, mobile phones, digital cameras and other wireless devices if they support WiFi Direct. Since WiFi Direct feature is relatively new, not many devices support it completely. If your printer supports WiFi Direct, then you can connect it with your Windows 8 PC with very little effort.

In order to connect your wireless printer in Windows 8/8.1, you can follow these simple steps:

Open charms bar by using the hotkey Win+C. Then click on Settings (gear like icon) and then Change PC Settings.

Select Devices on the PC settings screen and then click on Add a device in the right-side panel.

It will scan and list all the available devices including your wireless printer. Click on the wireless printer from this list.

What happens next varies from one printer to another. In case of some printers, Windows 8 asks you to push the wireless button on the printer. In some other printers, you have supply the password that you have set for wireless network during printer drivers setup.

After taking the appropriate steps for your printer, Windows will add the new printer and make it available for your use. You can open Devices on PC Settings screen again to see the newly installed wireless printer in the list.

WiFi Direct is still in early developmental stages and not all the hardware manufacturers are keen on providing full support for WiFi Direct in they wireless printers. This is why this way of connecting your wireless printer in Windows may or may not work properly.